OBJECTIVES: Social support was previously regarded as acting only a stress modifier, but many recent studies have found a direct effect on stress. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of social support on job stress and psychosocial stress to determine whether it acts via direct effect or indirect effect. METHODS: This study was performed in May 2003. The study population consisted of 425 male workers in an automobile factory in Korea. Data were collected with structured self-administered questionnaires. We used JCQ(Job Contents Questionnaires) to measure job stress and social support, and PWI-SF(Psychosocial Well-being Index-Short Form) to measure stress outcome. We analysed the relationships using Structural Equation Modeling software AMOS4. RESULTS: It was found that social support acts both as a direct stressor and an indirect stressor via job stress. However the direct effect was double the indirect effect. CONCLUSIONS: The direct effect of social support on stress was the more major. Therefore social support is an independent stressor rather than a stress modifier in automobile factory workers.
Automobiles* ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Questionnaires

The incidence rate of industrial accidents tends to decrease since 1984. It seems to be caused by the active prevention activities for industrial accidents, however, there has been some concern for under-reporting of industrial injuries and illnesses. This study was carried out to assess the status of injury occurrences and industrial accident reports. The author reviewed and analysed the record from an infirmary of an automobile related factory from May 1994 to April 1998. The results obtained were as follows; 1. The number of injuries were 665 spells during four years and incidence rates per year per 100 persons were 39.57(1995), 39.04(1996) and 36.86(1997). The incidence rate of industrial injuries that needed over four days of medical treatment were 4.32 %, 6.51 % and 4.90 %, respectively by the year. 2. The highest incidence rate by age was the 20-29 age group (46.30 %) and by working duration was the under five years group (46.18 %). 3. A total of 665 injuries were occurred by 244 workers. Workers who experienced over five accidents were 41 persons (16.8 %) with 285 injuries and the proportion of total spells was 42.9 %. 4. Workers who experienced over 5 accidents were the younger group, had under five years working duration and worked at the position of frequently using hand tools. 5. Among the 665 spells, the injuries that needed over four days of medical treatment were 93 spells (14.0 %) and the reported proportion as an industrial accident was 8.6 % (eight spells). The results suggest that improvement of the report system is required to enhance the accuracy and reliability of the industrial accident statistics, and analysing all accidents would be necessary to setup the strategy for prevention even if they are minor injuries.
Accidents, Occupational ; Automobiles* ; Hand ; Humans ; Incidence ; Plants*

Automobiles ; China ; Humans ; Occupational Exposure ; Risk Assessment

Pneumocephalus is defined as the presence of air within the cranial cavity. Trauma such as automobile accidents, motorcycle accidents, and missile injuries is the most common cause of pneumocephalus. There have previously been four reported cases of pneumocephalus following stab wounds to the neck in the English literature. We present an unusual case of pneumocephalus following a neck stab wound with a review of the literatures.
Automobiles ; Motorcycles ; Neck ; Pneumocephalus ; Wounds, Stab

Driver rehabilitation is a component of rehabilitation medicine that specifically focuses on the evaluation and retraining of drivers who have medical conditions that may affect driving capacity. Automobile driving is an instrumental activity of daily living and driver rehabilitation needs a comprehensive approach guided by rehabilitation specialist. Drivers who need evaluation include brain damaged drivers, such as stroke and traumatic brain injury; older drivers, especially those who are suspicious as having dementia; and drivers with psychiatric illnesses. Driver evaluation is constituted of pre-driving (in-clinic) evaluation and behind-the-wheel evaluation. In-clinic evaluation includes history taking and physical examination that focuses on visual, motor and cognitive function. Details of in-clinic evaluation are discussed. Driving performance can be evaluated during simulated or on-road driving or both. Driver retraining can also be done using driving simulator or real automobile equipped with adaptive devices. It is predicted that increasing aged population raises the need for driver evaluation and rehabilitation in the near future. Concerns and participation for rehabilitation specialists in driver rehabilitation is requested.
Aged ; Automobile Driving ; Automobiles ; Brain ; Humans ; Physical Examination ; Specialization ; Stroke

OBJECTIVES: A cross sectional study was carried out in the welders exposed to manganese and control group. The aim of this study was to assess the adverse effects of manganese on central nervous system of welders. METHODS: The study group consisted of 49 welders and the reference group, 49 workers matched with welders for age and educational level in automobile manufacturing company. Concentration of manganese in welding hume, in blood, and cumulative exposure index(CEI) were determined for each subject. For each group, computerized neurobehavioral test including Simple Reaction Time, Digit Symbol, Digit Span, and Finger Tapping Speed of Swedish Performance Evaluation System were applied. RESULTS: Exposure level of manganese in welders were very low(mean CEI 0.069). Welders exposed to manganese had slower response speed, slower motor steadiness, and shorter memory span than control group. But these differences were not statistically significant. The performance of Finger Tapping Speed tended to lower as environmental and biological exposure index got higher. Other neurobehavioral tests were found to have a little association with the exposure indices. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference of neurobehavioral performance between welders and control group. This study indicates that Finger Tapping Speed measuring motor steadiness might be a one of useful tests for early detection of adverse effects of welding on central nervous system.
Automobiles ; Central Nervous System ; Fingers ; Manganese* ; Memory ; Reaction Time ; Welding

Drowsy driving is a major cause of automobile crashes which can lead to more serious injuries than other causes of traffic accidents. Here, we review the accumulated scientific evidences and legal decisions of drowsy driving in various countries. Also, we highlight recent institutional strategies and developing technologies for prevention of drowsy driving. To prevent drowsy driving, raising public awareness as well as collaboration of professionals in various fields are requisites.
Accidents, Traffic ; Automobiles ; Cooperative Behavior ; Sleep Deprivation ; Sleep Wake Disorders

Automobile airbags have been shown to reduce morbidity and mortality in the event of a vehicle crash; however, new problems have been identified. Among these problems, direct injury from the airbag itself has become a serious concern. This suggests that an airbag itself may not be safe. Burn injury from airbags accounts for about 7.8% of all injuries caused by vehicle crashes. There are three types of burn injuries from airbags: Thermal, chemical, and frictional. Moreover, there are three subtypes within the category of thermal airbag burn, as identified by Tsunetuki in 2003. Herein, we review a case of an airbag burn and report a unique burn case on ‘an upper extremity’, including both thermal and frictional burns.
Air Bags* ; Automobiles ; Burns* ; Friction ; Hot Temperature ; Mortality ; Upper Extremity*

Traumatic diaphragmatic rupture is uncommon, but requires a prompt diagnosis and repair. Diaphragmatic injury is most commonly associated with automobile accidents. The diagnosis is difficult and may be delayed because there are no specific symptoms, signs, or radiographic studies that are pathognomic for diaphragmatic injury. The most important factor in the diagnosis is a high suspicion and the use of proper diagnostic studies. We report a case involving the delayed presentation of diaphragmatic rupture in a 54 year old man, requiring surgical repair 12 days following multiple blunt trauma. It should be noted that early recognition for diaphragmatic injury is important in patients with multiple trauma to avoid the potential fatal complications.
Automobiles ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Diaphragm ; Humans ; Multiple Trauma ; Rupture

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to investigate the job stress factors, psychosocial stress and their associations in workers engaged in the research and development of vehicles, and according to job role. METHODS: We recruited 4,066 subjects from workers at a research and development center of an automobile company. A total of 2,764 workers answered the questionnaire about socio-demographic factors, health behaviors, work-related factors, subjective labor intensity, KOSS, and SF-PWI. The final analysis included 2,282 male manufacturing and research workers. Univariate analyses and multiple logistic analyses were conducted on the complete questionnaire data to compare the job stress factors, psychosocial stress and their associations between research and manufacturing workers. RESULTS: The adjusted Odds ratios comparing the high risk group to the low risk group regarding PWI group were 2.23(95%CI=1.63-3.04) in "Lack of rewards", 1.64(95%CI=1.20-2.24) in "Interpersonal conflict", 1.59(95%CI=1.15- 2.20) in "Organizational injustice", 1.58(95%CI=1.17-2.14) in "Occupational climate" and 1.43(95%CI=1.05-1.94) in "Job insecurity" among research workers, and 2.46(95%CI=1.59 -3.80) in "Lack of rewards" and 1.94(95%CI=1.17-3.22) in "Organizational injustice" among manufacturing workers. CONCLUSIONS: There are differences in job stress factors between research and manufacturing workers. Further studies and discussions based on quantitative methodology for seeking more fundamental causes of these differences are required to establish job stress intervention plans and policies.
Automobiles ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Male ; Odds Ratio ; Questionnaires